embezzle

verb

em·​bez·​zle im-ˈbe-zəl 

em-

embezzled; embezzling im-ˈbe-zə-liŋ 

-ˈbez-liŋ,

em-

transitive verb

: to appropriate (something, such as property entrusted to one's care) fraudulently to one's own use

embezzled thousands of dollars

embezzlement

im-ˈbe-zəl-mənt 

em-

noun

embezzler

im-ˈbe-zə-lər 

em-

-ˈbez-lər

noun

Did you know?

English is full of verbs that mean “to steal” (such as pilfer, rob, swipe, plunder, filch, and thieve). But when it comes to stealing property (and in this context, money is a kind of property) that has been entrusted to you, embezzle wins the prize. The word most often refers to theft of company or government funds that one has charge of, and embezzlement is therefore a hallmark of white-collar crime—that is, crime committed by so-called “white-collar” workers. In the 15th century, around the time that embezzlement entered English (the ultimate root is Anglo-French besiller “to steal, plunder”), it would have also been possible to say that such plunderers “bezzled” company cash, but bezzle is now considered obsolete.

Examples of embezzle in a Sentence

He was caught embezzling money from his clients.

He was convicted of embezzling.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adidas is investigating possible compliance violations in China after receiving an anonymous letter accusing top executives of embezzling millions of euros. —Rocio Fabbro, Quartz, 17 June 2024

And a former treasurer for the city of Houston, Alaska, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for embezzling more than $1 million from the city into his bank account. —Sarah Lapidus, USA TODAY, 9 Aug. 2024

What happened when an Idaho man embezzled $150K and didn’t report it on his tax return A Caldwell man will serve three years behind bars for embezzling over $150K from his former employer. —Idaho Statesman, 17 July 2024

The former head of emergency medicine at SUNY Downstate Medical Center embezzled more than $1.44 million and spent it on travel, personal trainers and a luxe doggy day-care center, prosecutors allege. —John Annese, New York Daily News, 9 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English embesilen, from Anglo-French embesiller to make away with, from en- + besiller to steal, plunder

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

embezzle

verb

em·​bez·​zle im-ˈbez-əl 

embezzled; embezzling -(ə-)liŋ 

: to take (property entrusted to one's care) dishonestly for one's own use

embezzled thousands of dollars

embezzlement

-əl-mənt 

noun

embezzler

-(ə-)lər 

noun

Legal Definition

embezzle

transitive verb

em·​bez·​zle im-ˈbe-zəl 

embezzled; embezzling

: to convert (property entrusted to one's care) fraudulently to one's own use compare defalcate

embezzlement noun

embezzler noun

Etymology

Anglo-French embeseiller to make away with, from en-, prefix stressing completion + beseller to snatch, misappropriate, from Old French, to destroy